Chapter Twelve: I'm in Love and Always Will Be

Danielle

I opened the door, knowing that it wasn't for me. It never was. Angela had disappeared last night and I was guessing from the fact that dad came over and got in an argument with mom, that she had found out.

I knew something was going on and now it was too late to stop it. My parents were officially over and there was nothing that I could do about it. One thing was clear … we weren't going to be staying here.

Logically, why would my mom want to stay in a house littered with memories of her cheating ex? Why would Angela and I want to be somewhere where we could remember the times where dad told us bedtime stories or taught us how to cook or … anything?

It majorly sucked. Big time.

But once again, I was the one person in the family whose feelings were overlooked. Mom was out looking for Angela, now that she was no longer passed out in the guest room crying her eyes out, Angela was gone, dad was probably with his mistress, and I was home alone. Forgotten.

As usual. The most interesting thing to happen to me today was this door bell ringing and I was already preparing myself to chase that person away. I opened the door abruptly to get it over with but all thoughts left my head once I saw him, Brian.

"Is Angela here?"

"Come in." I offered, not even answering his question. "Did you bring her something?"

"Yeah … flowers." Brian handed them to me as I tried not to show my frustration. Really? Flowers? I was the more developed of the two sisters and I could barely get Brian to look at me.

"Well, she's not here. And you can go if you'd like." I blew him off, hoping that I made Brian wonder what was really going on.

"What's going on Danielle?"

"My world is falling apart … I guess you'll be the first to hear it but my parents are getting a divorce. My dad cheated…"

"Does Angela know?" Out of all the questions to ask, this was the coldest, most selfish thing that Brian had asked me.

"Get out."

"What?"

"Out. Now!" I threw a pillow at him angrily.

"But why? What did I do?"

"My parents are splitting up and the first thing you ask is what's going on with Angela? You don't even ask me how I'm doing or how it's affecting me?" I shook my head, disappointed. "I really thought you were different Brian."

"I'm sorry. How are you feeling … is there anything that I can do to make you feel better?"

"Just one thing. You have to tell me if you'll say yes before I tell you what it is."

"Okay. Anything." Brian agreed.

"I was hoping you'd say that." My expression changed to be the closest thing that resembled a smile. I walked over to Brian and hugged him, which he received warmly and then tried to brush my lips against his, as I'd seen Julia Roberts do in 'Pretty Woman.'

"Danielle?" He bobbed out of the way.

"You said anything."

"I'm sorry. Not this. I'm like into Angela."

"Angela. Angela. Heaven forbid that she have a little sister!" I gave Brian a swift push towards the door and planned to do the only thing I knew that would make it better.

Once people knew Angela, they forgot all about me. If I could start over and live without Angela being around, then for once, people would give me attention and love me. Not treat me like the invisible child.

Angela

You never really like know people, no matter how much time you spend with them or think about being with them. No matter how much you watch them, you never really know someone until they fully open up and let you see the parts of themselves that they're too afraid to show.

Jordan Catalano has surprised me, to say the least. He has gone from being the guy that I lived to see to someone I knew I could never be with, to my hero to … whatever you want to call him now.

We spent the last hour reading and trying to get Cameron to go to sleep. After which, Jordan looked at me shyly from behind his over-grown hair. I knew his secret now.

"I'm like … sorry about that. Do you still feel like talking?"

"No. Not yet. I mean like I don't want to ruin it. This, I can't believe it. It makes me feel like I don't know you at all."

"No one knows."

"So is it like a secret?"

"I like that you're the only one who like knows." Jordan admitted as I nodded. I got what he was saying.

"So, where are your parents?" Jordan shrugged in response and I could see that this was the wrong way to go.

"Truthfully … like I'm starting to think they're the problem and not me." Jordan hugged me, like he just got it and I tried not to cry even though I really wanted to. I hated them so much, my mom for marrying my dad, my dad for cheating and creating Rosa, and Rosa for taking over my entire life.

Rosa

"Do you really have to do this here?" I rolled my eyes at my 'parents,' probably more upset than Angela that they were together.

"Well, Graham is staying with us now-"

"Please." I begged, rolling my eyes, leaving the kitchen and picking up the phone. "Catalano, get your ass over here."

"I like … can't."

"Why?" I demanded, feeling instantly defensive.

"Angela's-"

"Tell her to go home. I'm coming over." I threatened, but we both knew that unless he came to get me, I was stuck here.

"The thing is Rosa … she needs me." Jordan sighed.

"I need you more." I whined back. "Look, just pick me up tomorrow. Don't be late." I slammed the phone down and ran up the stairs and tried not to cry. I really wanted to cry … but then this idea started forming.

Angela wanted to mess with my life, so I was going to have a little fun with hers.

Rayanne

Angela was back to hating me, almost more than before, and I couldn't figure it out. She seemed so into Hayden and we were cool when I left Vinny's. There were two people that I could ask but one would cause less damage than the other.

"Krakow!" I yelled to him, crawling out of my little corner. I had been waiting for him for a good half hour.

Angela didn't know that she was the best girlfriend that I'd ever had and I didn't want her to go away over stupid meaningless sex with Jordan.

"Hi." Brian answered with his normal nervous energy.

"What happened after we left you at Vinny's?"

"We went bowling with that Hayden guy and like … Jordan showed up and Rosa and-"

"Did he crash the date?"

"Sort of." Brian scrunched up his nose.

"Well, then what?"

"I don't know." He shrugged.

"What do you mean you don't know?" My voice grew louder.

"They went to a party or something, okay?" Krakow walked away briskly before I could get anything else out of him.

"Catalano!" I screamed over the crowd in the hallways, until I found him. "What's up with Angela?"

Rosa

"You're cute." I cornered Brian in the hallway a few days after Storm Angela arrived. And by the way, Jordan didn't pick me up.

"Hi."

"Look, I have an idea…" I began. "There's a school dance coming up and I thought it would be a good idea if we'd go together."

"You mean the Sadie Hawkins?"

"Yeah. You have a date?" I breathed carefree. Guys like Brian never said no because they were enamored with the idea of any girl expressing interest. My interest was completely feigned of course.

"No … but I was like…"

"Good." I pretended to be relieved. "I didn't know how to ask you since I was a little nervous… but I'm glad." I answered back and started to walk away.

"Hey Rosa, do you want to like go … and like…"

"Hang out? Totally." I smiled, triumphed. "How's today sound?" I pushed and so was born a new 'dating thing' starring me and Nerd Boy. He was only part of my plan. I still had her friends Rayanne, Ricky and Sharon to get on my side.

And what about Jordan, you ask?

He'll come back because we fit together better than any other two people.

Danielle

I was sitting outside of my house on the hard, damp concrete steps and you know what, it felt so much better than being inside my big "comfy" house.

Without mom and dad on good terms, it felt like a big joke, like every good memory or happy thought was now menacing. I could barely think about anything else, except mom's words that we were leaving soon.

After Angela's Birthday, which was supposed to be the last hoorah before it was all over.

I sighed, wishing that I had something cool like a cigarette or really long hair to let blow back in the wind. Only, I'd cut it all off in rebellion against everything that was going on. So now, I resembled Macaulay Culkin more than Demi Moore from Ghost.

"Hey!" Brian yelled from across the street, picking up the newspaper from his front yard.

He looked more … relaxed than I'd seen him before. His hair was pulled away from his face, a gray shirt and relaxed jeans … Brian was still the most gorgeous guy that I'd ever seen. I thought about the last time I saw him and that stupid attempt at a kiss.

But it would just be easier to ignore him. I placed my head on my knees and closed my eyes, taking in a few deep breaths and planning my escape.

Maybe I could just get up and run. What would mom say when I wasn't home tonight or the next night? Would they even notice?

Probably not.

"You okay?" Brian wondered, sitting beside me. I was so into my little hypothetical situation that I didn't have time to plan my escape from him.

"The party isn't until next week."

"I know when Angela's Birthday is."

"Good. Then what do you want?"

"Last time, I didn't ask how you were … now, I like want to know…"

"You know they say divorces are the most tragic things to happen next to deaths." I answered back truthfully.

"That's nothing compared to watching your parents separate, divorce, get married again and then end up in between being separated and married." He answered back, patting me on the knee. "You'll get through this."

"In a new town, with no friends."

"You can always like … call me if you want to talk."

"I know you like loooovvveee Angela. Being friends with me won't get you any closer to having her love you back."

"I didn't like mean it like that-"

"Can you go Brian? You're making it worse … the same way that you like feel when Angela runs off with Jordan is how I feel whenever I know you're like thinking about her." My mouth started running off with me. "I mean I'm like totally waiting for you to like wake up and get it. I could've had my first kiss by now, but I wanted it to be special and I wanted it to-"

"Like be with me?" He asked as we both sat in silence as I stared at him.

"And I don't know why." I looked down and away.

"Danielle, I don't … feel that way about you. You're probably the smartest kid I know but, you're just a child. If I like made you think otherwise-"

"Thanks for letting me down gently. And I'm not like just a kid Brian." I stood up to get going. This sucked. Majorly. A bad day had gone to probably the worst day of my life.

"You can find someone who likes you Danielle, who sees you as more than I do." He offered, following me.

"What are you doing?"

"Just don't like take this the wrong way. I'm only like doing this because…" His face trailed off and Brian's lips brushed against mine gently. Everyone in the world paused for a moment and I looked at him, stunned.

"What was that for?"

"Now you can tell your friends that you got that first kiss from a kid in high school." He gave me a nudge on the shoulder, and I was convinced that I would never wash these lips again, or this outfit again.

"Wait!" I yelled as he started to turn around. "Can you like … do that one more time? I don't want to forget how it feels."

Angela

Life is so funny. It's like when you think that it's all bad and crappy, someone goes and has a baby or gets married or comes back to life and then you like wonder why you weren't the one who had the good thing happen.

But Sharon really needed this good thing, this miracle. I couldn't even believe that I was here, at the hospital coming to see her but I was. Mom made me go but Sharon thought I went to support her. I hadn't even known that she was pregnant until … now. Rosa was there too, like she customarily seemed to be now. All of my old friends were hers now. Even Ricky, but I tried to ignore it and focus on that beautiful baby.

I guess grudges don't die so hard. Maybe all it takes is showing people you love them or care and then you're back to being even. But the real reason that I didn't argue with mom about being here was that I knew that I would be leaving soon.

Soon as in before the week ended soon. And soon all of this would be like a memory. I wouldn't be able to look back at Jordan or Rayanne or Ricky and think about how much they meant to me.

It wouldn't matter because I wouldn't be here. We would be three hours away in Jersey of all places living in my grandparent's house until my mom figured things out.

I was just putting the last piece of tape on the last box of my stuff when my mom popped into the house early.

"All packed kiddo?"

"Yeah mom." I sighed wondering why we had to leave Pennsylvania. Why couldn't we just move to another area? Why were we leaving now … when I was finally okay with everyone again?

"Perfect. Change in plans." She put on a forced smile.

"We're leaving today." I stood up suddenly.

"But I told everyone I'd be here until Saturday. Mom, that's not fair!"

"I'm sorry Angela. I ran the numbers and we save more money this way. Plus, you're ready, I'm ready."

"What about Danielle?" I asked, rushing to a phone and hoping to get a hold of Jordan. The phone just kept ringing until I got voicemail. I could've called anyone else, but Jordan was the one I'd miss the most.

Brian

"Anything else left in the house?" I wondered, helping the Chase's with everything. Angela was crying like crazy and Danielle kept giving me sly looks.

I knew what those were about … they were about the fact that the kiss that I'd given to her last week hadn't stopped there. Every second that we could get alone, I was like kissing her.

I couldn't help it. I'd never had a girl look at me like I was their world before.

"I think there's one last thing in my room." Danielle urged me back up the stairs, shutting the room behind her and hugging me closely. "I don't want to like … go." I could feel a wet tear moisten my T-shirt.

"I know. But you'll be here during the summer." I answered back, but what was I thinking saying that to her? Leading her on…

"A lot can change by then."

"Yeah." I sighed, pushing my hair out of my face. Danielle reached up to help me and ended up kissing me in the process. "I'll come to visit." I found myself promising in between the kissing.

"Good." She gave me one last hug and went rushing into the car.

Angela piled into too and I looked at my watch. I guessed no one else got the memo.

Ms. Chase beeped the horn and as she started to pull off, that stupid red sports car popped up and out ran Jordan Catalano.

Just like in the movies, he said a few words to Ms. Chase, then Angela and finally got into the car with them.

Angela

I couldn't believe that my mom was being so unreasonable and like irresponsible. My friends were like throwing this big part thing for me and now I wasn't even going to be there.

I tried explaining everything to her but my mom was like super-determined to go asap, which meant that Danielle had probably blabbed to the man formerly known as my father, when and what time we were leaving.

Pouts, protesting, and out-right crying did nothing to like shake my mom. She didn't care about anything that I had to say.

Brian and Danielle went off for a moment and then she liked climbed back into the car, looking elated but saddened at the same time. If I was more interested in my sister, I would ask her what that was about but … I didn't like care about anything except this screwed-up situation.

After all of this, how could Rosa win?

"We'll make it through girls." My mom answered to an audience that wasn't buying it. She started to pull out of the yard, with Brian waving dumbly at us, until a red car cut her off. She beeped the horn.

It was Jordan.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and rolled down the window as he got my mom's attention and then climbed into the seat next to me.

I grinned brightly as he put on his seat belt and held my hand tightly, reaching it up to his face to give me a kiss.

"What about Cameron?" I asked, wanting to make sure that this was real.

"They're on Spring Break so I like … found this community camp for him so I'm like…"

"Going to Jersey?"

"Yeah. I mean not like forever but … for a while." He promised, staring at me intensely. I couldn't say or do what I wanted, not with my mom in the car.

"Mom. I like ride to New Jersey with Jordan? I promise we'll like follow you the whole way."

"Sure." She sighed. "But we have to leave now." Ms. Chase bargained as the two not-so-perfect teens hopped out of the car and into the red car that Angela never even got a chance to miss.

"How did you know?"

"Danielle called me … and I like had to see you one more time." Until that moment, I had never really cared too much about my sister, but I would be eternally grateful and thank God for annoying little sisters.

"I should be mad at you …. For Rayanne and Rosa."

"You should." He agreed.

"And I shouldn't like be so quick to like … love you, but … I can't help it."

"Good. I won't like screw it up this time. I don't want to lose you."

(A/N: Jordan's not the bad guy in this story. Check out my other one which is a lot less innocent/more edgier on the Jordan-Angela thing: So Hard to Make Them Fly or other non-MSCL fics by me (shameless promotion)... Get Over Me, You Left Me Alone, or Beautiful Goodbye. -NL)